On June 7, the National Archives announced the discovery of a new Abraham Lincoln message written in President Lincoln’s own hand to Major General Henry Halleck. The message, which was found among the Adjutant General’s Records in the stacks at the National Archives Building, is dated July 7, 1863. It is part of a collection of “Generals’ Papers” which includes miscellaneous documents relating to Halleck. The note expresses Lincoln’s optimism that if General Meade could destroy Confederate General Lee’s army, the war would be over.

Trevor Plante, a specialist in Civil War records at the National Archives, discovered the message in the National Archives files while looking for some materials in response to a reference request.